y OjA-iU 

W w LIBRARY 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


6 

Moa  V o U,  \ V\  j 

rhe  Warren  County  Library  and 

4 Reading  Room  Association. 

3- 

v 

i 18  6 8—1  9 0 2. 

5 

1 This  institution  is  now  the  growth  of  one  third  of  a century,  with 
iore  to  follow.  It  has  steadily  developed  in  those  directions  for  which 
inds  have  been  given.  A broad  foundation  has  been  laid,  upon  which 
le  future  can  build,  safe  and  large. 

THE  READING  ROOM 

as  opened  June  1st,  1868,  and  was  then  know  as  the  Monmouth  Reading 
oom  and  Library.  Twenty  five  persons  collected  and  paid  in  $2,500 
) meet  the  estimated  expenses  for  two  years.  They  formed  themselves 
ito  an  association  of  directors.  Mr.  N.  A.  Rankin  was  elected  president, 
udge  Ivory  Quinby  gave  the  use  of  a room  located  at  the  corner  of 
roadway  and  First  street.  He  outlined  the  plan  and  wrote  the  constitu- 
on,  which  is  substantially  unchanged  after  the  thirty-four  years  of 
ial.  He  aided  in  the  selection  of  the  first  directors  and  of  the  period- 
als.  He  gave  the  best  thought  and  mature  judgment  of  his  last  years  to 
anning  a library  and  thus  helped  to  a success  which  he  did  not  live  to 
se. 

From  1868  to  the  time  of  his  death  in  1877,  Mr.  Wm.  Laferty  was  the 
easurer.  He  began  the  prudent  and  conservative  financial  policy  which 
is  ruled  ever  since. 

During  the  first  two  years  no  books  were  bought.  Unbound  maga- 
nes  were  loaned  for  home  use,  and  also  used  in  the  reading  room. 

From  the  first  meeting  of  the  directors,  held  in  the  law  office  of 
jew  art  & Phelps,  Feb.  3,  1868, 

MR.  W.  P.  PRESSLY 

18  an  interested  member.  During  the  year  1870  he  erected  and  deeded 
trust  to  this  Association,  a brick  building  42x75  feet,  at  the  south- 
ist  corner  of  the  public  square.  The  rents  of  two  large  business  rooms 
l the  first  floor  sustain  the  building  and  buy  a constant  supply  of  books, 
le  second  story  was  designed  for  a library  and  reading  room.  This 


lift  pi  j*  a 


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I I 75062 


2 


* 


was  the  first  building  in  the  state  built  and  given  as  a library  for  popular 
use  It  is  a gift  which  produces  income  and  is  self-perpetuating. 

Mr.  Pressly’s  expressed  wishes  were  that  library  privileges  be  ex- 
tended to  people  living  in  the  country  and  that  books  be  bought  attractive 
to  the  generality  of  readers  and  to  the  young.  Thus  a childless  man  pro- 
vided for  the  pleasure  and  the  instruction  of  the  children.  A business 
man,  he  embodied  in  this  gift  the  practical  ideas  of  his  life  as  a success- 
ful merchant,  whose  custom  had  been  largely  from  out  of  town. 

It  was  his  idea  that  considerable  population  is  needful  for  a large 
and  prosperous  public  library  and  that  popular  goods  must  be  bought  in 
accord  with  the  common  wants  of  customers  in  order  to  attract  readers. 
He  selected  a site  where  rentals  are  valuable  and  where  people  from  all 
directions  can  exchange  books  without  loss  of  time  when  they  cornel 
shopping  Thus  his  purpose  was  as  practical  as  the  intent  of  a store  or  I 
of  a bank.  The  management  has  been  based  on  business  principles  rather  I 

than  on  bookish  ideals. 

His  gifts  for  this  purpose  amounted  to  over  $20,000.  And  in  addi- 
tion  to  this,  about  18,000  of  the  volumes  now  on  the  shelves  have  been 
bought  from  the  income  of  the  W.  P.  Pressly  foundation.  People  use 
these  books  throughout  the  county  and  beyond.  The  founder’s  purpose 
of  returning  to  those  in  town  and  country  from  whom  he  had  received, 
has  been  accomplished.  Young  people  especially  prize  the  advantages 
provided  for  them  by  one  who  lives  to  see  the  good  he  has  done.  He  has 
often  expressed  his  satisfaction  with  the  results  attained,  saying,  “I  thank 
God  that  he  led  me  to  build  this  building.”  His  faith  has  ever  been  that 
proclaimed  by  the  greatest  of  the  poets: 

“There’s  a Divinity  that  shapes  our  ends, 

Rough-hew  them  how  we  will.” 

The  enlargement  of  the  scope  of  the  institution  to  include  the  coun- 
try,  led  to  a change  of  the  name.  It  is  of  interest  to  note  that  the  name 
selected  was  taken  because  it  had  been  used  during 

THE  PIONEER  DAYS 


of  this  community.  

The  oldest  record  book  in  our  court  house  shows  that  a Warren 

County  Library  was  started  January  12,  18,36.  That  was  less  than  mm 
years  after  the  first  white  man  settled  in  this  county,  which  then  extended 
to  the  Mississippi  river.  The  log  court  house  had  then  been  built  only 

four  and  a half  years.  , 

The  first  trustees  of  that  library  were  James  McCallon,  Llijal 

Davidson,  James  P.  Hogue  and  George  H.  Wright.  The  president  wa> 
Milo  Holcomb.  The  secretary  was  the  many-handed  Daniel  McNeil.  A 

that  date  nothing  was  constitutional  in  this  part  of  the  state  unless  hi 

was  in  it.  Dr.  R.  C.  Matthews  was  one  of  the  later  trustees.  In  1870  fn 
proposed  reviving  the  old  name.  Mr.  Pressly  had  requested  the  adoptioi 
of  a name  which  would  indicate  a people’s  library,  not  only  for  this  city 
but  also  for  the  county. 


3 


I That  early  library  never  possessed  any  property  except  a few  books 
naturally  died  out  in  time. 

The  following  is  the 

ROLL  OF  DIRECTORS,  DECEASED, 

ijvho  have  served  the  present  library  between  1868  and  1902:  John  E. 
(Alexander,  John  S.  Clark,  H.  B.  Foskett,  Samuel  M.  Hamilton,  William 
Hanna,  Chancey  Harding,  Jacob  Holt,  William  Laferty,  Robert  C. 
‘Matthews,  John  Porter,  Ivory  Quinby,  N.  A.  Rankin,  J.  K.  Ripley, 
(Edwin  R.  Smith,  James  H.  Stewart,  A.  H.  Swain,  Henry  Tubbs,  William 
Walker,  David  A.  Wallace,  Elias  Willits  and  Samuel  Wood. 

This  list  speaks  for  the  character  of  the  work  done.  These  men 
helped  with  rare  good  judgment  to  organize  success.  They  were  prudent, 
public  spirited  and  alive  to  the  best  interests  of  the  community.  Their 
aims  were  not  narrow,  nor  partisan  nor  personal.  They  were  trustees 
jWho  could  be  trusted. 

Here,  as  elsewhere,  this  object  has  attracted  the  co-operation  of 
plear  headed  business  men.  The  long  and  increasing  list  of  the  founders 
land  promoters  of  libraries  for  the  people  includes  the  most  successful 
men  of  affairs,  such  as  Franklin,  Tilden,  Carnegie,  Marshall  Field,  and 
Gladstone.  They  recognized  the  fact  that  in  no  other  way  can  a gift, 
large  or  small,  reach  so  great  a number.  Active,  practical,  busy  men 
and  women  have  been  most  interested  in  the  Warren  County  Library. 
During  the  year  1884 

MR.  JOHN  D.  THOMPSON. 

of  California,  who  had  gone  from  Monmouth  as  a forty-niner,  enlarged  the 
usefulness  of  the  reading  room.  He  gave  $5,000  to  the  endowment,  sug- 
gesting that  the  income  therefrom  be  devoted  to  making  the  use  of  period- 
icals free  in  the  library  rooms. 

It  was  requested  by  Mr.  Thompson  that  no  name  be  made  public  in 
this  connection.  This  restriction  was  removed  in  a letter  received  sixteen 
years  later,  shortly  before  his  death.  When  certain  changes  are  made  in 

[he  building  a memorial  window  will  be  placed  in  the  Reading  Room  in 
ionor  of  him  who  made  it  free.  He  remembered  the  home  of  his  boyhood 
n this  gift.  He  shall  not  be  forgotten. 

The  will  of 

I 

MRS.  SARAH  C.  SIMMONS 

who  died  in  1899  put  the  library  in  possession  of  certain  real  estate,  then 
valued  at  $14,000,  with  the  proceeds  of  its  sale  a building  is  to  be  erected 
Us  a memorial  of  her  son.  This  building  is  to  contain  a library  on  the 
(first  floor.  Mrs.  Simmons  had  climbed  the  stairs  for  nearly  thirty  years 
tto  draw  books.  She  had  seen  that  the  aged  and  the  infirm  need  easier 
means  of  access. 

The  new  building  will  also  provide  more  ,room,  which  is  much 
needed.  Already  the  book  space  is  nearly  filled.  The  plan  under  con- 
sideration is,  that  the  new  building  will  contain  the  circulating  library, 


4 


and  the  reading  room  and  reference  library  will  remain  where  they  arM 
It  is  the  usual  method  to  have  these  apart,  but  in  close  proximity.  ■ 
As  the  number  of  volumes  increases,  various  departments  ai 
generally  placed  in  different  buildings  or  in  different  rooms.  One  thin« 
that  a growing,  properous  public  library  is  sure  to  need  is  more  room 
and  yet  again  more  room.  A lot  to  the  southeast,  adjoining  the  library 
was  purchased  in  1901.  Vacant  ground  given  by  Mr.  Pressly,  is  thu: 
made  easily  accessible  from  the  public  square  and  can  be  used  as  th< 
sites  of  additional  buildings  if  that  is  deemed  best. 

Each  year  shows  advance  and  improvement.  The  number  of  volumes 
the  number  of  readers  and  the  cash  receipts  increase  steadily.  The  En 
dowment  grows  by  gifts  received  and  by  adding  each  year  a part  of  th< 
income.  Thus  the  means  are  accumulating  for  future  enlargements. 

The  experience  of  the  older  public  librarits  is  that  one  person  aftei 
another  adds  to  their  property  and  to  their  usefulness.  It  is  well  that  th< 
common  wants  of  readers  have  here  received  the  first  gifts.  Strange  t( 
say  there  are  many  people  who  will  not  read  mathematics  or  theology 
But  a man’s  a man  for  a’  that.  And  there  is  high  authority  for  tha 
democratic  precept  of  the  first  Christian  century, 

HONOR  ALL  MEN. 

That  is  what  this  library  does,  without  fear  and  without  favor.  It  is  i 
republic  of  letters,  where  all  men,  women  and  children  have  equal  rights. 
Such  is  clearly  the  intent  of  the  department  founded  by  Mr.  W.  P.  Pressly 
This  is  now 

A FREE  REFERENCE  LIBRARY, 

where  any  one  can  use  in  the  reading  room,  without  charge,  any  of  tho 
books.  It  is  the  purpose  to  extend  this  free  use  very  widely — to  cover  the 
county  with  free  branches  and  travelling  libraries,  to  provide  stronu 
departments  for  various  classes  of  readers,  to  freely  furnish  books  to  th< 
schools  and  to  all  ages,  industries  and  nationalities  in  this  vicinity.  The 
best  libraries  are  doing  these  things. 

The  use  of  our  books  and  periodicals  covers  a very  wide  range. 
Information  is  sought  here  on  almost  every  imaginable  topic — literary' 
political,  scientific,  historical,  religious  and  artistic.  Our  readers  also 
seek  that  which  is  intensely  practical.  They  read  on  house  building, 
horse  training,  house  furnishing,  manufacturing,  patent  rights,  machinery, 
gardening,  farming,  cookery,  needlework  and  the  fashions.  The  schools, 
the  shops  and  the  women’s  clubs,  all  receive  large  benefits.  Stockmen 
investigate  the  registered  pedigrees  of  their  horses  and  cattle,  using  the 
genealogies  of  the  Hambletonians,  of  the  Durhams,  and  of  other  first 
families. 

Although  this  library  is  intensely  American  and  is  as  yet  lacking 
to  a great  extent  in  foreign  works  or  their  translations,  people  of  many 
nationalities  frequent  the  rooms.  It  is  worthy  of  note  to  mention  omj 
striking  example  of  the  educational  inlluence  of  this  free  institution.  For 
many  years,  a naturalized  citizen  who  came  from  Linkoping,  Sweden. 


5 


id  here,  wheneyer  he  had  time  from  a laborious  occupation.  The  re- 
lt  was  that  he  became  far  better  informed  on  American  public  affairs 
in  most  native  voters  are.  His  interest  often-times  expresses  itself  in 
! wish  that  some  one  of  foreign  birth  would  give  this  library  the  money 
‘ found  a European  Department  of  translations  and  of  books  concerning 
Irope. 

J In  the  reading  room,  the  best  catalogues,  indexes  and  works  of 
?!erence  are  provided,  to  aid  readers  in  looking  up  desired  information 
> themselves.  This  is  a great  advantage,  as  self-help  is  the  best  help, 
bulletin,  published  every  three  months,  enables  people  at  a distance  to 
dw  what  books  they  can  order  sent  to  them. 

' Wholesome  recreation,  for  young  and  old,  is  provided.  Very 
| ,ny  who  had  no  literary  tastes  have  learned  to  use  the  best  books, 
ildren  come  to  the  rooms  as  soon  as  they  can  read.  Boys  who  delighted 
.Indian  stories,  years  ago,  have  grown  up  to  be  useful  men,  without 
wiping  any  one. 

I The  Warren  County  Library  is  incorporated,  not  as  a single  library 
ft  as 
| 

A SYSTEM  OF  LIBRARIES. 

je  charter  provides  for  “branches  elsewhere  and  connections  with 
aer  libraries.”  This  outside  extension  is  yet  largely  in  the  future.  It 
>its  to  be  provided  with  funds.  When  our  ship  comes  in,  our  books  will 
tivel  widely.  Their  use  is  not  restricted  to  this  county. 

; Such  an  association  of  libraries  will  be  built  up  here  without  in- 
line from  taxation.  The  demands  on  public  revenue  are  yearly  increas- 
ig.  In  many  places  the  library  tax  is  deemed  a burden  and  has  been 
t down.  Monmouth,  even  without  it,  has  the  distinction  of  being, 
abably,  the  most  highly  taxed  city  in  the  state. 

4 Nor  can  the  money  for  this  purpose  be  obtained  by  general  solicit- 
or. This  community  is,  for  various  objects,  canvassed  as  excessively  as 
is  over-taxed.  What  this  library  has  received  has  been  freely  given  by 
|)se  who  will  be  remembered  for  benefits  done  to  the  entire  community  in 
Inch  the  donors  have  lived  and  prospered.  By  taking  care  of  and  en- 
ding these  gifts  they  have  become  greater  each  year.  Such  gifts  and 
lh  prudent  management  of  property  are  the  hope  for  future  advancement, 
j The  Association  of  directors  is 

y 

A PERMANENT  CORPORATION 

UL  holds  in  trust  the  property  and  the  management.  The  present  life 
mbers  are  as  follows:  President,  W.  P.  Pressly;  Vice  President,  Fred 
Harding;  Treasurer,  W.  H.  Sexton;  Secretary  and  Superintendent, 
ds.  H.  Rogers;  Trustees*  O.  S.  Barnum,  Ivory  Quinby,  C.  M.  Rodgers,  J. 
Sipher,  W.  K.  Stewart.  Directors,  Draper  Babcock,  C.  V.  Brooks, 
‘Jorge  Bruington,  A.  A.  Cornell,  D.  D Dunkle,  Henry  Jewell,  J.  M. 
nieson,  John  McCoy,  H.  H.  Pattee,  W.  P.  Smith,  and  G.  S.  Tubbs. 

Much  of  the  mbst  important  work  is  done  by  committees,  yearly 
pointed  by  this  board.  The  books  to  be  bought  are  selected  by  a com- 


f 


6 


mittee  of  men  and  women  who  represent  a wide  variety  of  readers.  Sel 
tions  are  not  made  with  a critical  indifference  to  popular  tastes:  jf] 
money  did  not  come  that  way.  Much  valuable  help  has  been  given 
cataloguing  and  indexing  by  persons  interested  in  the  success  of 
library.  Committees  of  business  men  have  looked  after  the  buildings, 
finances,  the  investments  and  the  auditing.  These  matters  have  been 
well  managed  that  in  the  entire  thirty-four  years  not  one  dollar  of  prir 
pal  or  interest  has  been  lost.  The  librarian  is  Mr.  T.  M.  Millen. 

The  governing  corporation  consists  of  a limited  number  ofmembe 
holding  their  places  during  life  or  regular  attendance  on  the  meetings, 
fills  its  own  vacancies.  This  form  of  constitution  insures  stability  i 
permanency.  There  have  been  no  upheavals,  political  or  otherwise, 
steady,  uniform  policy  has  been  followed.  The  funds  and  other  prope 
are  in  the  care  of  persons  especially  selected  for  prudent  management 
property.  Politics,  favoritism  and  wire-pulling  have  been  entirely  abse 
There  have  been  no  dissensions  or  quarrels.  The  members  of  the  assoc 
tion,  differing  widely  in  affiliation,  have  always  worked  harmoniously 
gether.  The  object  has  been  the  public  good  as  provided  for  by  the  g 
received.  No  party,  or  sect, or  class  rules  or  is  favored  more  than  anot 
The  funds  and  property  received  might  have  founded  any  one  of  vario 
kinds  of  libraries.  They  have  been  used  as  was  intended  by  the  done 
The  association  holds  this  property  in  trust,  not  in  fee  simple,  at  its  o 
pleasure. 

The  annual  report  for  1901  gives  the  following  statistics:  Numbei 
volumes  20,597,  of  which  622  were  added  during  the  year;  periodic; 
regularly  received,  120;  books  and  magazines  drawn  for  use  69,438;  c 
rent  receipts  for  the  year  $3,766.15;  current  expenditures  $3,102.90; 
endowment  is  now  $25,625,  having  been  increased  during  the  year  $1,482. 

The  W.  P.  Pressly  Foundation  produced  during  the  year  from  re 
and  interest  $1,416.16,  used  for  purchase  of  reading  matter  and  for  s 
taining  the  buildings. 

The  John  D.  Thompson  Gift  is  now  $7,380.65  and  produced  $46.r 
income.  This  furnishes  the  free  reading  room. 

The  Mark  Billings  Building  Fund  from  the  bequest  of  Mrs.  Sarah 
Simmons,  holds  at  interest  $12,350  and  real  estate  for  sale,  valued  at 
000.  This  fund  will  be  used  for  an  additional  building  when  the  real 
tate  is  sold. 

Those  who  have  given  largely  have  selected  the  purposes  to  wh 
their  gifts  shall  be  applied.  This  is  their  right.  Thus  far  the  gifts  h 
been  for  the  popular  department.  This  is  not  a theory,  it  is  a conditi 

OTHER  NEEDED  DEPARTMENTS 

can  be  founded  by  others,  with  such  conditions  as  the  donors  see  111 
affix  to  what  they  give.  To  complete  and  enlarge  the  institution,  stre 
special  libraries  of  History,  of  Science  and  of  European  literature,  mos 
in  translations,  are  needed;  a children’s  room  is  needed;  free  branch 
braries  in  various  localities  and  in  the  schools  of  this  county  are  need 


7 

id  a wholesale  department  to  sustain  this  outside  business.  All  these  be- 
mg  to  the  work  of  the  modern  public  library.  County  libraries  elsewhere 
ave  such  departments. 

Each  gift  or  bequest  is  held  separate.  Honor  is  given  to  whom 
Dnor  is  due.  In  each  book  is  an  inscription  to  show  who  gave  it  or  from 
hose  fund  it  was  bought.  There  are  memorial  tablets  on  the  buildings, 
he  funds  are  reported  each  year  under  the  names  of  the  donors.  This 
akes  manifest  whether  these  moneys  are  used  as  those  who  gave  them 
itended.  The  published  annual  statements  give  publicity  to  the  entire 
anagement. 

All  expenditures  are  made  with  careful  economy.  The  library 
rpects  every  dollar  to  do  its  duty.  That  is  the  way  the  way  the  money 
ime.  Over  the  door  of  the  plain  building,  erected  in  1870,  the  donor 
as  placed  the  motto  of  the  Ohio  school  at  which  he  was  once  a student, 
Prodesse  quam  Conspici .”  In  administering  his  gift  nothing  has  been 
me  for  display.  If  the  money  thus  far  received  had  gone  into  a fine 
aiding,  there  would  have  been  a library  without  books  and  without  the 
sans  to  meet  current  expenses.  It  has  been  constantly  held  in  view  that 
e first  requisites  are  an  abundance  of  acceptable  reading  matter  and  a 
re,  ample  income.  A less  conservative  policy  might  easily  have 
■ought  on  the  Warren  County  Library  the  fate  which  has  befallen  the 
rarren  County  Fair. 

The  principle  that 

GIVERS  HAVE  RIGHTS 

Wh  in  respect  to  his  own  or  her  own  gift,  has  been  a guiding  star  to  the 
fgmagement.  This  rule  is  enacted  as  a part  of  the  Illinois  law  for  public 
jbraries  which  are  founded  and  sustained  as  this  one  is.  The  statute 
' rects  that  “the  provisions  of  any  will,  deed  or  other  instrument  by 
(hich  endowment  is  given  to  said  library  and  accepted  thereby  shall  as 
> said  endowment  be  a part  of  the  organic  law  of  the  corporation.” 

To  create  full-grown  an  association  of  free  libraries  such  as  this 
ne  is  to  be,  and,  single-headed,  to  meet  the  needs  of  the  masses  and  of 
|te  classes  throughout  the  county,  would  require  the  gift  of  a millionaire, 
uch  a system  here  must  be  the  combined  work  of  several  persons,  each 
Sunding  or  endowing  a part. 

This  sketch  reports  progress  and  plans.  The  large  success  of  what 
is  been  done  gives  assurance  that  what  remains  to  be  done,  in  order  to 
lfil  the  purposes  for  which  the  Warren  County  Library  exists,  will  be 
^complished. 


UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS- URBANA 


CENTRAL  CIRCULATION  BOOKSTACKS 

The  person  charging  this  material  is  re- 
sponsible for  its  renewal  or  its  return  to 
the  library  from  which  it  was  borrowed 
on  or  before  the  Latest  Date  stamped 
below.  The  Minimum  Fee  for  each  Lost 
Book  is  $50.00. 

Theft,  mutilation/  and  underlining  of  books  are  reasons 
for  disciplinary  action  and  may  result  in  dismissal  from 
the  University. 

TO  RENEW  CALL  TELEPHONE  CENTER,  333.8400 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS  LIBRARY  AT  URBANA-CHAMPAIGN 


MAR  2 1 199*1 


When  renewing  by  phone,  write  new  due  date  below 
previous  due  date.  LI 62 


